Exterior Painting Tips

Your side of the project

Posts tagged exterior painting tips are written from the homeowner's side of the job. A crew handles the scraping and the coats, but there are a handful of things only you can do, and they make the project faster and the result better.

Think of it as a short to-do list that sits alongside the contractor's scope. It covers clearing access, avoiding the color surprises that outdoor light creates, and checking the finished work while the crew is still on site to fix anything you spot.

Before and during the job

• Trim shrubs and branches back at least a couple of feet from the walls so ladders and sprayers have room.
• Turn off irrigation zones near the house for the duration; sprinkler spray on fresh paint causes spotting.
• Move patio furniture, grills, planters and wall decor away from the work area.
• Test colors outdoors with large swatches on two different walls; exterior light makes most colors read lighter than the chip.
• Keep pets inside or away from open paint and ladders.

At the end

Walk the house with the crew lead before they leave. Look at window sills, door edges and the areas behind downspouts. Ask for a labeled container of each color for future touch-ups. Our exterior painting page outlines the full scope, and a color consultation helps if you are stuck between options.

Small dings and missed spots are easy to fix on the last day and much harder to schedule weeks later.